News Release

Friday, March 2, 2018

77th Division Officer-Involved-Shooting NRF011-18bm

The employees involved in the
below incident have been identified as Sergeant I James Muniz,
Serial No. 30963 and Police Officer II Melchor Oronez, Serial No.
37880, 77th Division.

*The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing
investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview
witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze
forensic evidence. The Department's understanding of the facts and
circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and
analyzed**

Los Angeles: On February 25,
2018, around 7:35 a.m., uniformed officers assigned to the Los
Angeles Police Department's 77th Street Division responded to a
radio call of a Burglar Alarm in the 2100 block of West Century
Boulevard. Around 7:50 a.m., officers requested a back-up and an
Air Unit for a Burglary Suspect There Now. Officers encountered the
suspect, later identified as Santos Nunez-Garcia, and verbalized
with him to persuade him to surrender peacefully. Nunez-Garcia
produced a handgun and pointed it at the officers, resulting in an
Officer-Involved Shooting.

30-year-old Nunez-Garcia was struck by the gunfire. Los Angeles
Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced him dead at
scene. A loaded .38 caliber revolver was recovered at the scene. No
officers were injured.

LAPD's specialized Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to
the scene and began interviewing witnesses and collecting forensic
evidence. A representative from the Office of the Inspector General
responded and monitored the scene investigation. Personnel from the
LAPD Family Liaison Unit were present and met with the suspect's
family.

The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police
and the Board of Police Commissioners and the Office of the
Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the
investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with the
LAPD's policies and procedures. Additionally, representatives from
the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office who responded to
the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation; evidence
collected and witness statements to determine if the force used by
the officer(s) was reasonable.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is urged
to call the LAPD at any of the following numbers:

• During business hours at 213-486-5230;
• During non-business hours or on weekends at (877)-LAPD-24-7
(877-527-3247);
• Anonymously 24-hours a day to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
(800-222-8477) or by texting "LAPD" and your tip to phone number
274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S); or
• Online at www.lapdonline.org and click on "Anonymous Web
Tips.